How the Tennessee Innocence Project Helps Exonerees Transition back into Society

The Death Readiness Podcast host Jill Mastroianni talks with Jason Gichner, Executive Director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, about Joyce Watkins' case.

Joyce Watkins became entangled in a tragedy after caring for her great-niece for just nine hours. The child arrived at Joyce’s home already injured, showing signs of bleeding and cognitive distress. Joyce sought medical attention for the child but flawed medical testimony later pointed the blame at Joyce and her longtime partner, Charlie. The prosecution offered Joyce a plea deal of one year if she said Charlie committed the crimes. She refused, unwilling to send an innocent man to prison.

The Tennessee Innocence Project is a non-profit law firm that represents people who are actually innocent, people convicted of crimes they did not commit. The project’s typical client has been wrongly imprisoned for decades. On average, the project’s clients who have been exonerated served more than 26 years in prison for crimes that they did not commit. Besides direct litigation, the Tennessee Innocence Project engages in policy work to prevent wrongful convictions.

Tennessee Innocence Project: tninnocence.org

Listen here to the full episode here: https://the-death-readiness-podcast-3...